Automatic time switch



7 Sept. 27, 1932. HALL 1,879,213

AUTOMATIC TIME SWITCH Filed Aug. 8, 1924 @IIE/El am Inventor Chesbe v- 1. Hall, by /4W His Attorney.

Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHESTER I. HALL, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR flO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK aurom'rxc Tum swn'cn Application filed August 8, 1924. Serial No. 730,986.

My invention relates to an automatic time switch particularly adapted to operate electric traffic signals such as those used at street intersections where alternate stop and go signals are flashed, such signals being preceded by a shorter get ready signal to indicate that the trafiic on one street is to be stopped and the traflic on the intersecting street is to be started. The object of my in- 1b vention is to provide a simple, reliable and economical time switch of this character which may be readily adjusted to vary the relative duration of the various signals.

In carrying my invention into eifect, I prefer to make use of two-way mercury tube switches and cause their operation by a reversible, adjustable speed motor, the direction of rotationof which is controlled by one of the mercury tube switches which operate 519 the various signals.

The features of my invention which are believed to be new and patentable will be pointed out in the claims appended hereto. For a better understandin of my invention,

reference is made in the i ollowing description to the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of the timing motor and swltch mechanism together with the circuit connections therefor; Figs. 2, E3 and 4 represent different operating positions ofthe switches, and Fig. 5 represents the exterior appearance of the type of signal tower to which the invention is applicable.

The signal tower shown in Fig. 5 has its upper part made in the shape f a hollow rectangle on the four ides ofwhich are windows with appropriate signals therein. The signals on opposite sides will be similar and consist in this instance of the words Stop and Go separated by an intermediate signaling section 10 such as a yellow lens which serves when illuminated as the get ready signal. Three sets of electric lamps are placed in the interior otlhe tower back of the various windows, as indicated at 10, 11, and 12 so that when they are lit, the signals will show up. As illustrated, the lamps in the lower sections are lit and the indica- -tions Stop and Go are flashed on opposite ides of the tower which serves to signal the traflic on one street to proceed and on the intersecting street to stop. Just before the lower set of lights are extinguished and the upper set of lights turned on to interchange the flow of traflic from one treet to the other, it is desirable to flash a momentary get ready signal which is done by momentarily lighting the lamps in the intermediate section 10 which flashes a yellow light in all four directions. Then the lower lights are extinguishedand theupper lights turned on, reversing the stop and go signals with respect to the two intersecting streets. For convenience therefore, the three sets of signals and the lamps therefor will be designated as 10 for the get ready signal, 11 for the upper signalsand 12 for the lower signals. The trafiic may be somewhat heavier on one street than on the other and the trafiic conditions may change from time to time so that it is desirable to be able to vary the relative duration of the two sets of stop and go signals with respect to each other. It is also desirable that the tower shall ordinarily be operated automatically. The present invention relates to a suitable time switch mechanism for accomplishing these results and such mechanism may appropriately be housed in the base of the tower where it may be inspected and adjusted through the door indicated at 13. The

top of the tower may carryan appropriate lamp 14 which furnishes general illumination around the tower at night.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the lamps for the three sets of signals are indicated at 10, 11 and 12, and it will be understood that as man lamps as are necessary for each set of signa s are thus indicated. A pair oftwo-way me-rcury switches 15 and 16 are provided for the operation of the signals. These switches are independently mounted on suitable shafts, one of which is indicated at 17, so a to be tilted back and forth between stops 18, 19. 20 and 21. These stops are stationary, but if desired may be made adjustable. Each tube contains four electrodes which are electrically connected to the exterior terminals as illustrated. Thus the two central electrodes are connected to the central band and the end electrodes are connected to the adjacent end cap. The mercury indicated at 22 serves the double purpose of helping to tilt the tubes and to make electrical contact between the electrodes. It will be evident that, since the tubes are freely pivoted at their centers, as soon as the mercury flowing from one end to the other overbalances, when the tubes are approximately horizontal, the additional weight of the mercury in the lower end of the tube will cause the tubes to tilt an additional amount to bring them against their respective stops as illustrated. This is an important feature since it permits a quick and positive switch operation without necessitating special mechanism for this purpose. It is also important because it automatically completes the tipping operation without necessitating that the tipping mechanism and its driving motor, hereinafter described, be stopped immediately, thereby allowing the motor to momentarily continue operating in the same direction until it has performed another operation in the desired sequence. The amount of mercury in the tubes is such that the circuit is broken at one end just before it is made at the other end. In Fig. 1, the mercury in the tubes is represented as connecting the outer end electrodes with the corresponding central electrodes.

Automatic means is provided for starting the tilting of the switches and consists in this instant of the reversible adjustable speed induction disc motor represented at 23. This motor consists of the disc 24 and the two shaded coil field elements 25 and 26. Field element 25 is arranged to drive the disc 24 in one direction such as represented by the arrow in Fig. 1 and field element 26 is arranged to drive the disc in the opposite direction. Each of these field elements may be similar to the field element of the induction disc motor described in my United States Patent 1,331,059 or 1,331,915, in that the shaded coil pole pieces 27 and 28 are rotatably adjustable with respect to their cooperating pole pieces for the purpose of changing the speed of the motor. As represented these shaded coil sections are pivoted on the pole pieces proper by means of pins 29 and 30 to which are secured adjusting pointers 31' and 32 respectively cooperating with speed scales 33 and 34. The speed scales are preferably graduated in seconds indicative of the duration of operation of each particular motor element between the time it is automatically energized and deenergize'l. When the adjustable portions are such as to bring the shading coils to the trailing pole tip, the motors will have their maximum speeds and as these parts are rotated to bring the shading coils near the center of the pole pieces, the speeds will be decreased. As represented in Fig. 1, motor element 25 will have a higher speed than motor element 26. The switching arrangement is such that only one motor element will be energized at a time and one motor element controls the duration of signal 11 and the other element controls the duration of signal 12 so that the relative duration of the signals may be readily changed.

The tilting of the mercury tube switches 15 and 16 by the reversible motor 23 is accomplished through shaft 35, worm pinion 36, worm wheels 37 and 38, pin 39 on wheel 37 and pins 40 and 41 on wheel 38. It will be noted that there is considerable lost motion in such driving connections and that the lost motion in the drivin connection to tube 15 is greater than to tube 16. \Vheels 37 and 38 are pivoted on shafts 17 which support the tubes and are geared together with the worm 36 so that they rotate together but in opposite directions.

The apparatus is supplied in this instance by a single source of alternating current 42-43 and the circuit connections are as illustrated. Thus line terminal 42 is connected to the central electrodes of tube 15. The left hand electrodes of the two tubes are electrically connected together and to the positive side of signal 12 and motor element 25. The other side of signal 12 and motor element 25 is electrically connected to the negative line terminal 43. The central electrodes of tube 16 are electrically connected to the positive side of the get ready signal 10 and the other side of this signal is electrically connected to the negative line terminal 43. The right hand electrodes of the tubes are electrically connected together and to the positive side of signal 11 and motor element 26. The other terminals of signal 11 and motor element 26 are connected to the negative line terminal 43. As thus connected, it will appear that tube 15 controls the two signals 11 and 12 and tube 16 controls the energization of the get ready signal 10, signal 10 being energized just before and each time the other two signals 11 and 12 are changed. It will also appear that the right hand electrodes of switch 15 control the circuit of signal 11 and motor element 26 which are connected in parallel as well as energizing the right hand electrode of tube 16 from the positive side of the line and. likewise the left hand electrodes of switch 15 control the circuit of signal 12 and motor ele- In Fig. 1 sig the line are open. Under these conditions, I

signal 12 will be lit as indicated in Fig. 5 and motor element 25 will drive disc 24 and gear wheels 37' and 38 in the direction of the arrows represented in Fig. 1. It may here be noted that the duration of signal 12 will dc nd upon the speed adjustment of motor e ement 26. This state of afiairs continues until pin 41 on wheel 38 lifts the right hand end of tube 16 to slightly beyond a horizontal position whereupon the mercury therein flows to the left end of the tube and tilts the tube over against stop 20 as represented in Fig. 2, the final tilt raising the right hand end of the tube away from pin 41. The only thing this does is to energize the get ready signal 10 through the left hand ends of both tubes. In the meantime, pin 39 on wheel 37 has started to tilt tube 15 which very shortly tilts to the position indicated in Fig. 3. As soon as this happens. signal 11 and motor element 26 are energized and signals 10 and 12 deenergized. It will be remembered that motor element 26 is arranged to drive the mechanism in the reverse direction as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3. This condition persists during a definite interval. dependent upon the speed adjustment of motor element 26 and until pin 40 raises the left hand end of tube 16 and causes [it to tip to the position represented in Fig. 4..

This again energizes the get ready signal 10 and shortly thereafter pin 39 will have raised the right hand end of tube 15. causing it to tilt back to the condition represented in Fig. 1. This cuts out signals 10 and 11 and the motor .element 26 and. brings the apparatus back to the condition represented in Fig. 1. The operations just outlined are then repeated over and over until the line switch represented at 44 is opened.

When the traflic conditions are erratic. it may be desirable to dispense with automatic control and use manual control in which case the switch represented at 45 may be opened to disconnect the motor elements and then a crank 46 may be inserted through a properly spaced opening in the base of the tower. as represented in Fig. 5, which crank connects through clutch 47 and gear wheels 48 with shaft 35. The switches may then be operated by means of this crank until such time as automatic control is again expedient.

To prevent unauthorized tampering, the

ous u'iodilications of the apparatus will also and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A time switch for alternately energizing difi'erent circuits comprising a two-way mercury tube switch, an prising a disc and a pair of shaded coil fieldelements arranged to drive the disc in opposite directions, mcans for independently adjusting the speed of said motor in its different directions of rotation, a lost motion driving connection between said motor and tube for respectively tilting said tube toward its different circuit energizing positions when said motor is operated in its difi'erent directions. i

2. A time switch for alternately energizing different signaling circuits comprising a two-way mercury tube switch. an induction motor comprising a disc and a pair of shaded coil field elements arranged to drive the disc in opposite directions of rotation, means for independently adjusting the speed of said motor in its different directions of rotation and a lost motion driving connection between said motor and tube for respectively tilting said tube towards its different circuit energizing positions when said motor is operated in its diflercnt directions, said tube constituting a reversing switch for said motor.

3. A time switch comprising a two-way mercury tube switch arranged to be freely tilted about its center in opposite directions from a horizontal position to its respective circuit closing positions, a reversiblv rotatable electric-motor, a lost motion driving connection between said motor and tube for al.-

temltely tilting said! tube from its respective circuit closing positions, onlv to positions where the mercury in the tube overbalances the latter and causes it to complete the tilting actions to the other circuit closing positions.

4. A time switch for alternately energizing different signaling circuits, comprising a twoway mercury tube switch arranged to be freelytilted about its center in opposite directionsfrom a horizontal position to its re? spective circuit closing positions, a reversibly rotatable electric motor, a lost motion driving connection between said motor and induction motor comtube for alternately tilting said tube from its respective circuit closing positions, only to positions where the mercury in the tube overbalances the latter and causes it to complete the tilting actions to the other circuit closing positions and circuit connections from said motor to said tube whereby said tube constitutes a reversing switch for said motor.

5. A time switch for controlling a sequence of signaling operations comprising a pair of two-way switches, a reversible electric niotor, a driving connection between said motor and each of said switches for alternately causing the operation of each of said switches from one circuit closing position to-the other as the motor is respectively operated in different directions, said driving connection being arranged to cause the operation of one of said switches before the other for both directions of operation, and means cont-rolled by the operation of the said other switch for reversing the motor.

6. A time switch for controlling a sequence of signaling operations comprising a pair of two-way switches, a reversible electric motor, a driving connection between said motor and each of said two-way switches for alternatelv causing the operation of each of said switches from one circuit closing position to the other as the motor is respectively operated in its different directions, said driving connection being arranged to cause the operation of one of said switches before the other in both directions of operation and means for independently adjusting the speeds of said motor for the different directions of rotation.

7. A time switch for controlling a sequence of signaling operations comprising a pair of two-way switches, a reversible electric motor having means for independently adjusting its speeds in the two directions of rotation, and a lost motion driving connection between said motor and each of said two-way switches for alternately causing the operation of each of said switches from one circuit closing position to the other as the motor is respectively operated in different directions, said driving connection being arranged to cause the operation of one of said switches before the operation of the other in both directions of operation, said other switch constituting a reversing switch for the motor.

8. A time switch for controlling a sequence of signaling operations comprising a pair of horizontally disposed two-way mercury tube switches pivoted at their centers on horizontal axes and arranged to be tilted in opposite directions from horizontal positions for the difi'erent circuit closing positions, a reversible electric motor, lost motion driving connec i tions between said motor and switches for alternately tipping said switches from one circuit closing position towards the other circuit closing position as the motor is respectively operated in different directions, one of said driving connections being arranged to perform its operation before the other 'in both directions of rotation and the tube upon which said last mentioned driving connection operates being arranged to complete its tilting operation automatically due to the overbalancing of the mercury therein, thereby allowing its driving connection to continue until the other tube has operated.

9. In a timing device, a two-way mercury tube switch pivoted at its center so as to be tilted in opposite directions from a horizontal position for the two circuit closing positions, stops for limiting the tilting of the tube to a small angle from the horizontal position in both directions, tilting means for the tube arranged to be rotated about the axis of retation of the tube on a radius slightly less than one'half the length of the tube, a reversible electric motor for driving said tilting means, said tube being arranged to become ovcrbal anced by the mercury therein when partially tilted from one circuit closing position to the other whereby the tilting operation is automatically and quickly completed without necessitating the immediate stopping of the tilting means.

10. A time switch for controlling a sequence of signalling operations involving three signalling circuits, comprising a two-way mercury tube switch for respectively controlling two of said circuits in its two different operating positions, a two-way mercury tube switch for controlling the third circuit in both of its operating positions, a reversible electric motor having means for independently adjusting its speeds in the different directions of rotation, a lost motion driving connection between said motor and switches whereby said switches are caused to move to their different circuit closing positions by corresponding different directions of operation of said motor, and circuit connections connecting said motor to the first mentioned tube switch whereby the operations of said tube switch cause the reversal of the motor.

11. A motor driven time switch comprising an induction disc armature, a plurality of electromagnetic field elements associated with said armature, each of which when energized is capable of driving said disc by induction motor action, a switch comprising a plurality of switch contacts, circuits connecting said contacts to said field elements for energizing them, and means connecting said disc armature to said switch 'for operating the switch whereby said contacts selectively operate said field elements in a desired sequence.

12. A motor driven time switch comprising an induction disc armature, a plurality of shaded coil field elements associated with said disc, any one of which is capable when energized of driving said disc by induction motor action, each field elementbeing adjustable to vary its torque and the disc speed when operated thereby, a switch having a plurality of contacts, means connecting'said disc to the switch and operable by a predetermined turning movement of the disc for operating the switch, and means for separately energizing said field elements in a desired sequence.

13. In electrically operated traffic signal apparatus of the stop and go type, a signal including grouped lamps; a flasher having a series of make and break contact members and means for actuating same; an alternating current motor having an armature and a series of electromagnetic field units between the poles of which units the armature extends and is actuated thereby; a separate circuit for each of said field units and groups of lamps controlled respectively by corresponding contact members of said flasher; a support for one of the poles of each magnet unit, upon which support said pole is movable so as to be adj ustably positioned more or less out of alinement with its opposite pole, whereby the armature is impelled accordingly with more or less speed by the corresponding magnet unit when active to vary the duration of the signal periods of said lamps; an adjusting means suitably supported and having a series of movable members connected respectively with the corresponding movable poles of said magnet units, by which said movable poles are independently adjusted; and driving means connecting said armature and flasher.-

14. In electrically operated traffic signal apparatus, a signal of the stop and go type, having grouped lamps; an alternating current motor including an armature and a series of magnet units independently actuating said armature; a separate circuit for each of said magnet units and groups of lamps; a flasher controlling said circuits separately; amount for one of the magnetic poles of each magnet unit, upon which mount said pole-is movable so as to be adjustably positioned more or less out of alinement with its opposite pole, whereby the armature is impelled accordingly with more or less speed by the corresponding magnet unit when active and the duration of the signal periods of said lamps are thereby varied; means for adjusting each of said mov able poles independently of each other; and driving means connecting said armature and flasher.

its opposite pole, whereby the armature is impelled accordingly with more or less speed by the corresponding magnet unit when active and the duration of the corresponding signal periods of said lamps are varied; and means for adjusting each of said movable poles independently.

16. In electrically operated, traflic signal apparatus, signal members disposed in groups; a flasher having groups of make and break contact members, and means for actuating said contact members; an alternating current electric motor, the armature of which is operably connected with said actuating means, which motor has a series of separately operable electro-magnetic field units adjustably mounted; circuits for said field units and signal members controlled respectively by said flasher; and means for individually adjusting said units whereby said armature is operated by the respective units when active with more or less speed,

accordingly as said units are adjusted, and the timing of said signal members is thereby varied. I

17. In combination with a signal means having groups of indicating members, an electric flasher having a group of electrical make and break contact members connected in circuit with and controlling a corresponding group of said indicating members; an

' alternating, electric current motor of the induction disc armature type having an'armature in actuating relation with said flasher, and a series of electro-magn'etic field units connected in circuit with and controlled by contact members ofsaid flasher, said units having separate actuating relation with said armature and being ad ustable in relation thereto so that said armature is impelled with more or less speed by the respective units when active, according to adjustment ion of the respective units and said flasher being so disposed that the field units are energized severally in corresponding periods in the cycle of the flasher, and the active periods of said indicating members are correspondingly timed therewith.

18. In combination with a signal means having groups of indicating members, an electric flasher having a series of electrical make and break contact members in circuit with and controlling a corresponding group of said indicating members, an alternating electric current motor, the armature of which has operative connection with said flasher,

said motor having a plurality of electromagnetic field units, each having. separate actuating relation with said armature and being adjustable in relation thereto so that said armature is impelled with more or less speed by-the respective units, when active, according to adjustment of the respective units and connected in circuit with and controlled by contact members of said flasher whereby said field units are energized singly in a predetermined order oi succession; and means for adjusting said field units separately whereby the relative duration of the energized periods of the respective field units is thereby varied.

19. In combination with a signal means; an electric flasher having a series of electrical make and break Contact members therefor, an alternating electric current motor the armature of which has actuating relation with said flasher, said motor having a plurality of electro-magnetic field units, each having separate actuating relation with said armature and being adjustable in relation thereto so that said armature is impelled with more or less speed by the respective units, when active, according to adjustment thereof; adjusting means for said units; and electrical connections relating the field units respectively with corresponding contact members of said flasher so that said field units are energized singly in a predetermined order of succession as the flasher is actuated.

20. In a trailic regulator, a stop signal and a go signal, means including a rotary member for alternately operating said signals, and means for causing said member to travel rotatably a certain distance at one speed to operate one signal, and an approximately equal distance at the same or at a different speed to operate the other signal, said means comprising an armature, a plurality of field units, and means for adjusting said field units to vary the speed at which they drive the armature.

21. In a tratfic regulator, a stop signal and a go signal, means including a rotary member for alternately operating said signals, and means for causing said member to travel rotatably a certain distance at one speed to operate one signal, and an approximately equal distance at the same or at a different speed to operate the other signal, said means comprising an induction motor, comprising a disc and a plurality of shaded coil field elements, and means for adjusting said field elements to vary the speed at which the disc is driven.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of August, 1924.-

CHESTER I. HALL. 

